NYT: U.S. Says It Won't Move Quickly against Sadr

[DeepModem Mom]

U.S. Says It Won't Move Quickly Against Sadr
By DOUGLAS JEHL

Published: April 7, 2004


WASHINGTON, April 6 — American military commanders and civilian officials have decided to move slowly in carrying out any retaliation against Moktada al-Sadr, fearing that if American forces kill or arrest the rebellious Shiite cleric now, wider violence may be ignited, senior Defense Department officials said Tuesday.

While combating attacks by Mr. Sadr's militia on Tuesday, American officials are seeking for now to enlist other Shiite clerics in a plan to marginalize Mr. Sadr, the most vociferously anti-American figure among Iraqi Shiite leaders, and to diminish his backing among Shiites.

They said they hoped that Iraqi police officers or troops would ultimately arrest him.

American officials have been careful to portray Mr. Sadr not as a rebel but as a criminal responsible for the killing of a rival Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Abdul Majid al-Khoei, who was shot and hacked to death in a mosque in Najaf last year....

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/07/politics/07MILI.html

[leftchick]

1. It won't be this Iraqi Police officer arresting him....

He seems to have joined the resistance....



A police officer joins supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr celebrating on the roof while occupying the governor's residence in the southern city of Basra April 5, 2004. The costs of the war in Iraq (news - web sites), which contributed to a destabilization of the Middle East, have outweighed the benefits of removing Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), former U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix told a Danish newspaper on April 6. Photo by Atef Hassan/Reuters

[drhilarius]

2. They just don't seem to get it.

1. postponing arrest will only postpone violence, not prevent it.

2.Any clerics the US "enlists" will only be seen as mouthpieces for the occupiers. It will only strengthen their allegiance to Sadr.

[Oggy]

3. They can't go after Moqtada Sadr

while he is holed up in Najaf. If they did, the danger is that they could inflame Religious passion across Iraq and Iran. There are any number of Islamic prophets buried there, Ali, son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad being the most important. If he is actually in one of the associated mosques he is untouchable, unless Paul Bremer or Shrub want to escalate the violence into surrounding countries!!

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. Move SLOWLY ???

.
.
.

Heck, in Fallujah alone, they killed 25 just in one family!

Can't tell me those were all "terraists"

(sigh)